Douglas Young

Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. And they were all amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Lybia belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians– we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.” All were amazed and perplexed, saying one to another, “What does this mean?” But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.”

Acts 2:5-13, ESV

The working of God in the lives of humanity is often subtle, leaving only a speckle of a trace that it is even His movement. But not always. At times, the movement of God has been unmistakable. One of the most significant events in early church history is indicative of it.

It was a noteworthy occasion to be sure. It was Pentecost, one of Israel’s high festive days. It was also known as the Feast of Harvests. Pentecost occurred 50 days after another holy day of crucial import: Passover.

Jews from all over the world converged at Jerusalem. The time was right. God knew it was right. His anointed had been crucified and raised. Now, it was time to initiate the new covenant (Jeremiah 31:31-34). In the power of the Spirit (Joel 2:28-32), the “good news” would be preached in the name of the resurrected Christ. This would be big and big it was!

Jesus’ apostles were all Galileans, and the crowd that gathered cannot ascertain how men, all of whom were Galileans, are speaking in languages not their own. The crowd was intuitive enough to recognize that something big, unusual, and noteworthy was taking place. Not even Rosetta Stone could have made the apostles affluent in these various dialects in that short a time. “Amazed” and “perplexed” is completely understandable.

Of course, Luke’s last words on the matter are most unfortunate, but so incredibly normal. There always has to be the shallow crowd that mocks doesn’t there? They are the ones who cannot see the forest for the trees. It’s almost as if they’ve got built in presuppositions to begin with, or they will argue over anything. It’s like the person who will argue with you on a cloudless day that the sky is cloudless. These kind of people are unbelievably frustrating!

To my knowledge, drunkenness has never produced the ability to speak in languages not one’s own. When drunk people say odd things, but not communicate in foreign languages. People in denial often say the stupidest things!

There’s an old saying that rings so true, “There are none so blind as those who will not see.” Things have hardly changed. It’s not uncommon that Christians have shut their eyes to the mission of God that is going on around them. It takes spiritual sight to see these things. I suppose that is why Paul prayed that God would open “the eyes of the heart” of Christians at Ephesus (Ephesians 1:18). Carnality causes us to overlook what God may be doing for us, and at some times through us (A scary thought to be sure!). I am certain, God has spent considerable energy in opening my eyes, and for that I am immensely thankful.

I have no problem believing that God has done big things in the past, but I want to believe that God will do big things now. He can. “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen” (Ephesians 3:20, ESV).